Softball preview: Hamilton tops list of solid local teams

The past few years have seen area softball teams faring better than any other sport The Dispatch covers in the spring.

That may be the case once again.

Hamilton leads the way for the local squads with a trio of returning All-State picks. Oneida should contend in Class A as well, while Canastota, a sectional contender for more than a decade, is a bit more of a question mark after graduation hit the team hard. Stockbridge Valley, also a perennial power in Class D, is in a similar boat is still be favored to win the CCL.

As for Camden, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Madison and Morrisville-Eaton, time will tell if they can overcome a predominance of underclassmen to make the playoffs and contend.

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"We look okay, but we're young" Hamilton coach Bill Dowsland said after his team scrimmaged Canastota and Section II's Fort Plain on Tuesday.

Becca Rogers is the key to the Emerald Knights' success despite being a freshman. She saw action as a seventh grader in the circle then did the bulk of the team's pitching in 2011 in the march to the state semifinals and a No. 2 ranking in the final state poll.

As well as the All-State First Team selection throws, she hits, fields and runs just as well, and she has a capable backup in Hayden Nolan.

Backing up Rogers with smooth play at shortstop is Katie Weeks. The senior joined Rogers on the All-State First Team and is gunning for a third straight year earning the state's highest individual honor.

Hamilton graduated a fair amount of talent and athletic starters Hayleigh Hanson and Morgan Brooks chose not to return. Katherine Keever, the only other senior, hard-hitting All-State Third Team junior catcher Kelby Watkins, the speedy Lauren Weeks and Jess Welsh, versatile Kendall Rusch and a handful of other solid athletes round out the lineup and make the Emerald Knights a slight favorite to repeat as league and Section III champ.

And Dowsland, 287-70 for his career since 1998, should reach the 300-win plateau sometime in May.

Oneida coach Mike Curro (181-94, 2000-2011) enters his 13th year with five starters back from a 15-5 squad that ruled the TVL West.

Tops is Jenna Didio, arguably the best three-sport athlete in the school despite being just a sophomore. The shortstop fields well and is an even better hitter and baserunner. Outfielders Emily Lasalle and Jaclyn Cavanagh, veteran pitcher Maria Rocco and third baseman/catcher Ann Duchene also return and Casey Woodcock is a solid newcomer at first base. If Curro can get production from the other newcomers to the starting lineup, Oneida could contend at year's end in Class A.

Oneida is playing in the Morabito Tournament, the longest-running tourney in the northeast at 31 years. Aside from the TVL schedule, Oneida has other challenging non-league games and scrimmages to get ready for defending champion Phoenix as well as New Hartford, East Syracuse-Minoa and Jamesville-DeWitt.

Canastota's biggest challenge is replacing Jessica Patterelli, a multiple All-State pick at pitcher and third base. Sam McCarthy returns to lead the way for coach Tony Patterelli's Raiders. Underclassmen dominate the lineup for this team as well. In the realigned CSC Division I, the Raiders will be chasing favored Adirondack.

Coach Chris Peto's Stockbridge Valley team will have Justiss Usborne once again in the circle, but she will not have five-year starter and 2011 All-State catcher Marriah Gough behind the plate. Tiffany Jacobs, an eighth grader, is in line for the job.

"My last one was okay in eighth grade," Peto said.

The other returnees are Haley Jacobs at third base, Meriah Beauvais at shortstop, Brittany Lalonde at second base, Sam Yates at first base and Nicole Jacobs in center field.

Lalonde, Nicole Jacobs and Morgan Rood lend depth to the pitching and should make the Cougars the favorite in the CCL once again.

VVS coach Gary Oliver has one of his most inexperienced teams. The Red Devils do return three-sport senior standout Ashley Palmer as well as fellow senior Rebecca Przybylski, Jolene Durant, Jenna Dunne and Celeste Coy.

Erin Confer is a newcomer to watch for, as well as Sam Kogut and Taylor Ligoci, a transfer from Cicero-North Syracuse.

Madison coach Elaine Hogan has a roster 15 players deep but only one senior and five juniors. Taylor Best and Nikki Tubbs, Megan Rockhill and Morgan Lewis loom as the top returnees.

"We're a whole new team (and) I'm three deep pitching," Hogan said.

Shelby Johnson and Best are junior pitchers and the third is eighth grader Emily Davis.

Camden has a new coach in Kareem Jones but a fair amount of returnees. The Blue Devils' biggest problem will be inexperience, but there are a lot of athletes in the program. If contending isn't in the cards this spring, it may be soon.